Combined flush hinge and support for desks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

.A. OLAYPOOL. GOMBINBD PLUSH HINGE AND SUPPORT FOR DESKS. No. 497,533.Patented May 16,1893;

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I A.-0LAYP00'L. COMBINED PLUSH HINGE AND SUPPORT FOR. DBSKS.

No.f497',533. Patented May 16,1893.

UNITED STATES P T NT OFFIcE.

ALBERT OLAYPOOL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

COMBINED FLUSH HINGE AND SUPPORT FOR DESKS.

ELPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,533, dated May 16,1893.

Application filed March 14,1892.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CLAYPOOL, of Toledo, in the county of Lucasand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements ina Combined Flush Hinge" and Support for Desks, &c.; andI do hereby.declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a hinge, and has for its object to construct ahinge, in which the sections at the point of joinder shall present asmooth surface upon the upper or face side and at the same time form asupport for the foldable leaf secured to one section of the hinge.

A further object is to construct hinge sections in which the tongueswhich interlock shall have a pivoted rotation in which the transversepivot pin shall pass through the tongues above the center of the same ina horizontal plane, whereby the ends of the tongues may be formed withopposinginclines to act as supports when the sections are in ahorizontal alignment, and to allow one section to swing to an acuteangle to the other.

The invention consists in the parts and combination of parts describedand pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a combined bookcaseand desk with the leaf shown as opened, the hinges being shown inposition flush with the surface of the desk leaf and supportingthe same.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge with the sections separated.Fig. 3 is alike view with the sections assembled. Fig. 4. is a sectionalView of a portion of the desk and leaf with 'the hinges applied thereto,the leaf being shown in full lines as opened and supported by the hingesand in dotted lines as closed.

In the ordinary construction of hinges the knuckles through which thepivot pin passes comprise an enlargement atthe end of each tongue sothat when the sections are secured Serial No. 424,777- (No model.)

to an article of furniture (as the desk shown) .oted point of thesections being fulcrumed greatly weakens the hinge and requiressupporting devices for the leaf as chains or rods. My inventionovercomes these objections by reason of forming the tongues withoppositely inclined end surfaces which co-incide withlike inclinedsurfaces in the grooves and pivoting the sections by passing the pinthrough perforations formed in the tongues above the horizontal centersof the same, whereby pressure upon the straps when the two sections arein a horizontal plane exerts a direct, or nearly direct pull upon thepivot allowing the full strength of the same thereby forminga strongsupport and dispensing with the necessity of other supports. Itherefore, combine in the one articlea hinge, and support. Ihave shown adesk in which is aleaf secured by my hinge as one illustration ofits'use, as it best demonstrates the value of the smooth upper face ofthe hinge as well as its strength as a support, and also itsadaptability to be folded at an acute angle, it being understood thatthe hinge is more particularly adapted to the finer grades'of furniturewhere one portion is pivotally secured to another.

l designates the desk, 2 the leaf and desk.

'3 designates the hinge sections comprising the straps 4: provided withholes 5 through which are passed the screws to attach the same to thedesk and leaf, the straps 4 being sunk into the wood to form asmoothsurface with the top of desk and leaf. On the ends of straps are formedtongues 6. and grooves 7 in which the opposing sections slide and areheld pivotally assembled by means of a pin 8 which is passed throughperforations 9 formed in the tongues slightly above the horizontalcenter of the tongue as shown, whereby the oppositely inclined ends 10of the tongues may swing clear of the inclined portions 11 of thegrooves and allow one section to be moved to an acute angle to theother.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the ends 10 of the tongues, andthe inclined portions 11 of the grooves coincide and abut when thestraps are in horizontal alignment thereby forming a tight joint inwhich each inclined portion acts as a support and the pivot pin solocated that any weight upon the straps produces a strain upon the pinin the direction of the length of the hinge. The leaf may be supportedat any desired angle to the desk by varying the inclination of the endsof the tongues and grooves.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a hinge having asmooth upper surface when extended and that from its izonstruction itforms a rigid support for the eat.

It will be observed that the abutting ends of the desk 1 and leaf 2 asat 12 strengthen the fulcrum of the hinge, thereby adding great strengthto the support.

IV hat I claim is- A hinge composed of two sections, each section havinga plurality of tongues designed to ALBERT OLAYPOOL.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM WEBSTER, CARROLL J. WEBSTER.

